Latest news with #Hankerson
New York Post
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Gladys Knight speaks out after son accuses her husband of elder abuse
Soul legend Gladys Knight has broken her silence after her son publicly accused her husband of elder abuse. The 'Midnight Train to Georgia' singer, 81, assured fans she's 'healthy and happy' after her son Shanga Hankerson claimed that Knight's husband William McDowell — who is 33 years her junior — has been mentally and financially taking advantage of her. 'I don't want my mom out on tour on a tour bus wondering where she's at,' Hankerson recently told The Shade Room, saying his mother's tour schedule — which is set to resume in September — is 'detrimental' to her health. 6 Soul legend Gladys Knight has broken her silence after her son publicly accused her husband of elder abuse. WireImage Knight has since responded to her son's claims, telling People in a statement that her 'health and performances have been misrepresented.' 'I want my fans and those concerned to rest assured I am doing very well for someone who has been on stage for three quarters of a century, hard to believe, right?' she told the outlet. 'I'm healthy and happy and visiting friends and family these last few months. I'm excited to get back on the road with my sisters and on stage with The Queens Tour. See you soon.' Following his allegations, Hankerson said he has filed a complaint with North Carolina's Department of Human Services. The Post has reached out to the department and Knight's reps for further comment. 6 Shanga Hankerson said his mother's tour schedule is 'detrimental' to her health. Shanga Hankerson / Facebook 6 The singer's son claimed that Knight's husband William McDowell, who is 33 years her junior, has been mentally and financially taking advantage of her. Getty Images for BET During an appearance on Good Morning America last week, McDowell, 48, said he will not be weighing in on the discourse after Hankerson claimed that his mother is touring at her husband's insistence. While he admitted that his mother has never expressed a desire to quit performing, Hankerson alleged that his mother is currently 'on cruise control.' 'I did my best to give [McDowell] the space to play the role of husband and do what was in my mom's best interest, and he has not done that,' he told People. 'Why is she working? Why is she in this situation where she's being made to believe that she has to work like this? That's really my issue with it.' 6 'I don't want my mom out on tour on a tour bus wondering where she's at,' Hankerson said. Shanga Hankerson / Facebook 6 Hankerson said he has filed a complaint with North Carolina's Department of Human Services. Getty Images The 49-year-old also claimed that his famous mother had struggled with her memory in recent years. In response, reps for Knight told the outlet that her team is 'greatly saddened by Shanga's unfounded allegations,' adding that he allegedly 'has had no substantial contact with her.' 'She has not been on tour since June 1 and can't wait to begin touring again in September,' they told the outlet. 'At this time our lawyers have no choice but to explore any and all legal remedies due to Shanga's defamatory comments.' Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters In response, Hankerson slammed the statement as 'inaccurate,' saying he has been 'purposefully kept in a position of having minimal access' to the 'Missing You' hitmaker. 'This has nothing to do with money for me,' he said. 'I'm trying to get her to stop working.' Knight tied the knot with McDowell in 2001. She was previously married to James Newman from 1960 to 1973. The exes share son James III and daughter Kenya. 6 The 'Midnight Train to Georgia' singer wed McDowell in 2001. Getty Images for Tyler Perry Studios The singer later married Hankerson's father, record producer Barry Hankerson, in 1974. The pair parted ways just five years later. In 1995, she wed former Ohio representative Les Brown, though the pair's ill-fated union crumbled in 1997.
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Iconic singer, 81, looking at 'all legal remedies' after son's elder abuse claim
Gladys Knight is considering legal options after her son, Shanga Hankerson, branded her tour schedule 'detrimental' to her health. The 81-year-old legend is set to resume her Queens Tour in the US next month and has insisted she is 'healthy and happy' despite her son's claims. Hankerson, 49, alleged that Knight's husband William McDowell — who is 33 years her junior — was mentally and financially abusing her. He told The Shade Room: 'I don't want my mom out on tour on a tour bus wondering where she's at.' After this, Hankerson claimed he had filed a complaint with North Carolina's Department of Human Services and that an investigation is underway. Knight hit back at this and reassured worried fans that her health and the tour had been 'misrepresented'. 'I want my fans and those concerned to rest assured I am doing very well for someone who has been on stage for three quarters of a century, hard to believe, right?' she told The Independent. 'I'm healthy and happy and visiting friends and family these last few months. I'm excited to get back on the road with my sisters and on stage with The Queens Tour. See you soon.' She told People she had been enjoying her time touring and was 'excited' to get back on the road for the autumn dates. However, Hankerson claimed that her memory is becoming a problem and that this touring is 'detrimental' to his mother. 'I did my best to give [McDowell] the space to play the role of husband and do what was in my mom's best interest, and he has not done that,' he alleged. 'Why is she working? Why is she in this situation where she's being made to believe that she has to work like this? That's really my issue with it.' The disagreement could escalate into a lawsuit as Knight's publicist said the James Bond singer was looking into 'any and all legal remedies' for his 'defamatory comments'. They also alleged that he 'has had no substantial contact with her'. Hankerson retorted that he is 'absolutely' ready to take this to court to make sure he can 'really take care' of his mother. 'This has nothing to do with money for me,' he insisted. 'I'm trying to get her to stop working.' Knight and McDowell married in 2001 after three months of dating but had known each other for around a decade. After releasing some tracks together, the couple regularly appear on red carpets together, including when she was awarded at the Kennedy Centre Honours, AMAs, Billboard Music Awards and BET Awards. More Trending Knight previously stated to Closer that her grandchildren and great-grandchildren 'love [McDowell] to death'. She is mum to three children, having welcomed Jimmy and Kenya in the early 60s with first husband James Newman, who she split with in 1973. Then she married Barry Hankerson, who is Shanga's father, the following year, but they broke up in 1979. Knight, known for hits like I Heard It Through the Grapevine and Midnight Train to Georgia, is touring throughout this year with Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle and Stephanie Mills. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
3 days ago
- Entertainment
Gladys Knight responds after son accuses her husband of elder abuse
Legendary singer Gladys Knight's health is in the spotlight amid a family dispute. Despite her son Shanga Hankerson raising concerns about her cognitive health and her ability to work in an interview with entertainment media outlet The Shade Room, Knight says she's "doing very well." "I'm sorry that my health and performances have been misrepresented," Knight said in a statement to ABC News. "I want my fans and those concerned to rest assured I am doing very well for someone who has been on stage for three quarters of a century, hard to believe, right?" "I'm healthy and happy and visiting friends and family these last few months," she continued. "I'm excited to get back on the road with my sisters and on stage with 'The Queens Tour' - see you soon." Knight's publicist, Laura Herlovich, added in a separate statement to ABC News Friday, "Gladys and her team are greatly saddened by Shanga's unfounded allegations, especially as he has had no substantial contact with her. She has not been on tour since June 1st and can't wait to begin touring again in September. At this time our lawyers have no choice but to explore any and all legal remedies due to Shanga's defamatory comments." Hankerson had previously told The Shade Room that he didn't want his mother to tour again. "I don't want my mom out on tour, on a tour bus, wondering where she's at," Hankerson said. Hankerson said he noticed in 2024 that his mom might not be in good health. "She zoned out. They're having to rewind the teleprompters because my mom is forgetting to even look at them," he said. Hankerson claimed he filed a complaint with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, accusing his mother's current husband, William McDowell, of elder abuse. "Not knowing where, who she is, not knowing where William is, is a big thing for her. And that's my biggest issue," Hankerson said. McDowell told ABC News that he is letting Knight's statement speak for the situation and wouldn't be making any additional comments. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services told ABC News complaints are confidential and the agency does not comment on investigations. Civil trial attorney Tre Lovell, who is not involved in the matter and does not represent Hankerson, Knight, or McDowell, told ABC News that if there is a complaint, the agency will need to investigate to figure out whether the claims are valid or not. "North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, they need to step in, conduct their own investigation with their own health care experts, and determine whether or not somebody is suffering from some type of mental cognitive disability or condition and the type of remedy that that's going to require," Lovell said. Known as the "Empress of Soul," Knight burst onto the music scene with the Motown R&B group The Pips in 1961. Knight has won seven Grammy Awards.
